Nigerians who hand over millions of naira to agents for German jobs and visas are paying for promises they cannot keep, the German Embassy in Nigeria said. The mission made it clear that no agent, intermediary, or “connection” can guarantee visa approval.

The German Missions in Abuja and Lagos delivered the warning on Wednesday through the embassy’s official X account, @GERinNigeria. They stated that they do not work with any “visa agents,” and that all official information on visa requirements, appointments and procedures is freely available on the embassy’s website. Officials urged Nigerians to ignore claims by third parties and to contact the mission directly with any questions.

The warning is aimed at a common scam in which agents demand large sums of money, often millions of naira, in exchange for promises of a secured job and visa, faster appointments or special influence at the embassy. German authorities stressed that the decision on every visa application rests solely with them.

According to the Embassy, that decision is based on the applicant’s eligibility and documents, and not on payments made to middlemen.

For many applicants, the embassy’s message comes too late. In a recent post, the mission noted that it had received reports from applicants who paid large fees to agents promising jobs and visas, only to discover that the promises were false. The embassy’s position is that the money bought nothing, because the agents had no power over the outcome.

Applicants are also being told that the first step in the process costs nothing. The mission emphasised that booking an appointment through official channels is free, and that no one should pay anyone to secure a slot. Anyone demanding money for an appointment is therefore charging for something the embassy gives away.

The embassy also cautioned applicants against sending documents by email in an attempt to obtain appointments. It warned them, too, against relying on unofficial advice about the Consular Services Portal, which currently applies only to certain long-stay (national) visas. Applicants who follow such advice risk going down the wrong route for their kind of visa.

To avoid being defrauded, applicants are advised to use only official German government websites, namely nigeria.diplo.de and digital.diplo.de/visa. They are also advised to book appointments through the official system at no charge, to verify the correct visa category for their purpose of travel, and to contact the embassy or consulate directly with any questions.

The campaign forms part of an ongoing effort by the German Missions to combat misinformation and protect Nigerian applicants from fraud.

“We do not work with any ‘Visa Agents’! All information is freely available on our website.”